Will the cup of water overflow when the ice melts?
Summary
Students will determine whether melting ice will affect water level.
CollapseLearning Goals
This experiment is designed to teach students observational skills and recording data. Some of the vocabulary words which will be used are: displaced, expand, volume.
Context for Use
This experiment can be done as a whole class activity or in smaller groups. It should be started right away in the morning as they will need to periodically observe and record their findings. This activity should be used when teaching Solids and Liquids.
Description and Teaching Materials
Materials: paper towel, plate (saucer), clear plastic cup (typical drinking size), ice cubes, food coloring, cold water
First, fold the paper towel into fourths and put it on the plate. Set the cup on the paper towel and add ice cubes. Next, fill the cup with just enough water so it almost overflows. Add a couple drops of food coloring. The paper towel should still be dry. Replace it if it gets wet. Finally, let the cup sit undisturbed until all of the ice is melted. The students will now make their observations and predictions. Throughout the day, have them revisit their cup to record more observations.
At the end of the day, have the students report on their results. They will learn that the level of the water in the cup remains the same. This is when they will ask why, and there will be discussion. Make sure to use the vocabulary words during this time. Ice takes up more space than water (because ice expands), so when the ice melts, it shrinks and fits into the space equal to the volume of water that it displaced.
First, fold the paper towel into fourths and put it on the plate. Set the cup on the paper towel and add ice cubes. Next, fill the cup with just enough water so it almost overflows. Add a couple drops of food coloring. The paper towel should still be dry. Replace it if it gets wet. Finally, let the cup sit undisturbed until all of the ice is melted. The students will now make their observations and predictions. Throughout the day, have them revisit their cup to record more observations.
At the end of the day, have the students report on their results. They will learn that the level of the water in the cup remains the same. This is when they will ask why, and there will be discussion. Make sure to use the vocabulary words during this time. Ice takes up more space than water (because ice expands), so when the ice melts, it shrinks and fits into the space equal to the volume of water that it displaced.
Teaching Notes and Tips
Make sure that the students keep their cup undisturbed. Sometimes when their tables get bumped, water will spill out onto the paper towel and they will think it overflowed. I keep them on the counter top in my classroom and make sure that when they observe and record that they are one step away from the counter.
Assessment
Have the students record their final observation and a sentence or two about why this happened. They don't need to use the vocabulary words in their writing because we are looking for knowledge of understanding of this science concept.
Standards
2.2.1.2.1 Observe, record, and recognize that water can be a solid or a liquid and can change from one state to another and that the amount of water stays the same when it melts and freezes.